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New Orleans family finds refuge from Katrina in Katy, fire station

Katy area businesses, firefighters and residents are opening their hearts, wallets and even floor space to help five generations of a large family that fled from hurricane-wracked New Orleans.

Most of the 88 family members have ended up in the Westlake Volunteer Fire Department on Saums Road.

They were trying to escape from Hurricane Katrina, the Category 4 storm that slammed into the Louisiana coastline early Monday.

They drove west, but after failing to find motel rooms, they started trickling into the home of Bryan and Tequilla Taylor, who just last year moved from New Orleans to Lakecrest, near Franz and Katy-Fort Bend roads.

Bryan's parents, a brother and a great uncle were the first to arrive late Sunday night after an exhausting 15-hour drive.

"It took them five hours just to get out of Louisiana," Tequilla Taylor said. "It took four hours just to get to Baton Rouge."

A stream quickly turned into a flood of relatives, ranging in ages from three months to 79 years, more than the four-bedroom home could hold.

"We're the only ones who live out of town, they had nowhere to go but here," Tequilla Taylor said.

So, she called the Westlake Volunteer Fire Department on Saums Road for help. Tequilla said Fire Chief Mark Palmer went out of his way to help.

"He said, 'Don't worry about anything, we're going to take care of this for you,' " she said.

About 63 of the relatives are now camped out on the fire station's floor.

But another 25, including two elderly relatives, are staying with Bryan and Tequilla.

Palmer said that some other families besides the Taylor clan have since arrived and the station is currently housing about 90 people.

He said they aren't going to turn anyone away, but he's also had to call for help.

The West I-10 police station has agreed to take up to 80 people and some local churches have agreed to pitch in.

Bryan's mother, Alma, whose home in east New Orleans is now under water, said the extended family loaded up in 11 cars and headed west, just before authorities called for a mandatory evacuation.

"We knew where we were going — over here," she said. "some of them got lost, but we managed to get them here."

Unfortunately not all the family members were so lucky. Some stayed behind, Alma Taylor said.

"That's our worry right now, some of them are left behind, they're stranded," she said. "We can't get in touch with them. We're just sitting on pins and needles, trying to pray and hope that they're safe."

She said some of the family didn't have transportation or enough money to leave while others thought they would ride out the storm, as they had done before.

Tequilla Taylor said one brother-in-law, his wife, and two of his children started for Katy but grew weary of sitting for 12 hours in traffic.

``He turned around and went back home. We haven't heard from them,'' she said. ``We don't know where they are, if they're still alive or what.''

She said their home was shown on television and everything but the roof was under water. ``They're presumed dead,'' Tequilla said. ``Why didn't he just leave with everybody else?''

When the family members first arrived in Katy, Alma Taylor said they expected to stay for about three days and so brought just a few clothes.

Now it appears that they'll be here for at least a month.

Tequilla said the stranded relatives are trying to decide what to do.

"They have no money, they have no clothes, they have nothing," she said. Some are hoping they can temporarily enroll their children in school.

"They're trying to make the best of a bad situation," she said. "We're coping pretty well because we're used to being together."

So is the Westlake fire department. Palmer said firefighters have been given different assignments, including making sure the kids are occupied.

A bus load of some 50 displaced family members went to the Comets basketball game Tuesday night, he said.

And Mayde Creek High School offered to let them attend the Friday night football came at their stadium.

"Prayers are being answered," Palmer said.

However, food and sleeping accommodations are two big challenges.

The firefighters gave up their beds at the station and Academy Sports and Outdoors donated 60 cots. They also have air mattresses, couches and Palmer's personal camper, which will sleep six to eight people.

"The space is limited but we'll fill every crack, anything we need to do, we'll take care of it," he said.

So far most of the food has been donated, with the food for Tuesday's dinner provided by HEB grocery store. Employees from Good Ol' Boys restaurant cooked everyone a Cajun catfish dinner.

"I think we have the next four days meals provided," Palmer said. "It's just been awesome what these people are doing."

Still, there are many unmet needs such as gasoline vouchers and nonprescription medications. A local doctor has offered his services and Walgreen's will fill necessary prescriptions.

Palmer said anyone wanting to donate or help should call either 281-492-0560 or 281-492-0020.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nb/katy/news/3332506

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